Ask Azure

Dear Azure,
My baby brother Calvin is cute and all, but he’s gotten all the attention and no one cares about me anymore. Everyone’s always holding him and playing with him and I just get left out. Will it ever change, ‘ cuz I’m only 9? I like Calvin, but I’m mad at him now also!
Sincerely – Left Out

Dear Betrayed,
It is very normal to feel unappreciated when a younger sibling comes around. It is your parents’ natural instinct to pay attention to your little brother, because he needs it a lot at his age. I suggest that you buy Calvin a stuffed tiger and a red and black striped shirt, and see where that takes him… Anyone? Kidding… Kidding… Anyway, try talking to your parents, and let them know that you’re really missing them right now, suggest that maybe you do something together and maybe they can leave the li’l tike with a babysitter. If they say no, don’t feel bad; new parents are usually tired all the time, because they’re worn ragged. If that is the case, maybe you can spend time together by pitching in around the house. Maybe you could help one of your parents hang laundry while you talk about your day, or dry dishes while they wash. Even if it feels like work, it will give you some quality time, and help them out too, so it may give them more time to spend with you afterwards. Your parents still love you every bit as much as they always have, but their attention is just more divided. Parents are human too, and they can get stretched pretty thin. I really hope this helps!
Your Friend – Azure Bays

Hi Azure,
I’m a Sophomore in High School and I have a heavy problem. There’s a boy I like a lot (we’ll call him Tom) and he’s best friends with another boy who’s always been just my BFF, nothing more. Recently, I can tell that my BFF knows I like Tom, get it? Now my BFF is all mad at me and has got total attitude, in fact, we can’t even hang out anymore like we used to without a bunch of stress in the air. Well, Tom just asked me out to today at school and I said yes. Yikes! What do you think I should do?
Signed – Miss Confusion Dear Miss Confusion,

That’s rough. Try and think about why your friend is behaving in this way. The way I see it, there are a few obvious reasons: first, maybe your friend would actually like to be a little more than friends. On the other hand, maybe he knows something about your Mr. Wonderful that you don’t. Maybe this guy you like is a heartbreaker, and your friend doesn’t want to see you get hurt. Another possibility, is that your friend is worried that if the two of you break up, he’ll have to be the one in the middle of it. Talk to him, and find out why he doesn’t want you to be with this guy. See if his reasoning makes sense, and consider your options. If you still want to be with this guy, tell your friend how much it would mean to you to have both his friendship and a chance at a relationship with this guy. If your friend refuses to see things your way, consider whether this guy is really worth ruining what sounds like a great longtime friendship. Good luck, Miss!
Sincerely – Azure Bays

Dear Azure,
I chose you to answer my question because I like your name, and I think that we probably have a lot in common.

Ok, so my name is Tammy and i’m 12 years old in 7th grade. There is this girl @ school, who I thought was my friend, but now I’m having second thoughts. Ok, so she’s horrible at math and I’m okay at it; so last week I caught her copying off me on a big test. I don’t know what to do, because I really value our friendship (we’ve been friends since 5th grade) but I don’t want to be cheated off of. I also don’t want her to get in trouble. I’m afraid that if I tell her not to do it again, she might not want to hang out anymore.
Please Help – Tammy

Dear Tammy,
Wow! That’s a tricky situation! I had to think about that one for a while. Here’s what I think. You said that this friend is really important to you, and that you didn’t want to get her in trouble, so I think you kind of answered yourself there, as to whether or not she is your friend. She is, but she’s a friend who made a really bad choice. Speak with the teacher in private, and tell him or her that somebody has been cheating off of you, but you don’t feel comfortable saying who. Request a seat change, at least during tests. That should stop her from cheating off of you again.
Your friend – Azure Bays

Xavier Annual Christmas Pageant

ZONA recently had the distinguished honor of visiting Xavier Prep to interview Senior Paloma Diaz who is playing Mary Magdalene in this year’s Christmas pageant:

Zona: What is the big difference between last year’s pageant and this year’s for you?

Paloma: A big difference is that last year I was an angel and a townsperson, while this year I am playing the lead part of Mary.

Zona: Are you nervous, excited, up to the task?

Paloma: I am so excited and privileged to be Mary. I am definitely up to the task and cannot wait to get on stage.

Zona: What is your dance and acting experience? Do you take dance classes anywhere else?

Paloma: I  have been dancing since I started preschool when I was three years old, and last year as a Junior I was in the ensemble of Hairspary, a Brophy/ Xavier production. I have been in four dance productions at Xavier. Currently I do not take classes because I am a member of Xavier Pom, which has practice Monday through Thursday, (morning practices on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s) and we also compete.

Zona: What was the best play you have ever seen? Where was it?

Paloma: The best play I ever saw was Wicked. I have had the chance to see it three times, once at ASU’s Gammage and twice on Broadway.

Zona: What do you want to be when you grow up? Where do you see your dancing and acting taking you in the future?

Paloma: Currently, I am looking into business and one day starting my own non-profit organization to help the homeless. I hope to dance and act in college and for the rest of my life. I  absolutely love performing and I cannot imagine living without it.

Zona: How many cast members are there in this years pageant? Are you all good friends off the stage?

Paloma: There are about 100 cast members in this year’s pageant and I would say that I am good friends with all the cast members off stage.  The show is truly a bonding experience that continues well beyond the stage.

Zona: If you could play any role in any movie in Hollywood, or any role in any play on Broadway, who would you play?

Paloma: Well, earlier I mentioned that Wicked is my favorite play, so, if I was blessed with some singing talent,  I would love to play Elphaba because she does not go the easy route and sticks up for what she believes in.

Zona: If you were stranded on an island and you could have two things besides food and water, what would they be?

Paloma: I would have to say my mom, so that she could keep me company and some music, of course, so that I could dance.

Not only was Paloma willing to speak with ZONA, but she also was kind enough to ask several of her cast members some questions as well. Thanks Paloma! Paloma interviewed senior Bianca Baker who plays an angel this year, senior Alex Loda who also plays an angel this year and senior Chrissy Porter who plays Gabriel this year. All three girls were casted in the 2010 Pageant as angels.

Paloma: What do you think is the biggest difference between this year’s pageant and last year’s?

Bianca: The story line is the same but the people change.  This year we have new cast for Mary and Gabrielle.  We also have different music each year.  The choreography is also new.

Paloma: What is your role in this year’s pageant and why is it significant to you?

Bianca:This year I am an angel.  It’s significant because it’s fun to play this role.  There are 17 Angels and it’s fun to all be part of Gabrielle’s team.

Paloma: Any College plans?

Alex: I’d like to attend Chapman in Orange, CA.  There are some others but they are mainly in Southern CA.

Paloma: What is your favorite live show.  

Alex: I got to see Footloose on Broadway.  It’s my mom’s favorite play.  The dancing was super intense.  I liked it a lot.

Paloma: What do you plan on studying after high school?

Alex: I don’t plan on studying dance but I do want to be a production designer on films.  I’ve wanted to be a Disney Imagineer for years. That sort of morphed into doing production design.  I don’t want to direct or produce as much as design the creative side with the costumes and sets and things.

Paloma: What are your college plans?

Krissy: I just finished applying. I’d like to go to USC or Vanderbilt in Tennessee. I’m waiting to hear back from them.  Vanderbilt has a really good psychology program.

Paloma: Have you always been a dancer.  How did you get so good?

Krissy: I started when I was about six years old.  I hated soccer and t-ball so my mom signed me up for a Jazz class.  It’s stuck ever since.  I danced at Royal Dance Works.

Paloma:  What is your favorite TV Show?

Krissy: My favorite TV show is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

Why do Knuckles and Other Joints Crack?

Dr. Randy Widmaier, D.C.

Hello Zona! I’m Dr. Randy Widmaier and I’m excited to be part of In the Zona Magazine! I’ve been Chiropractor for more than 20 years and am and a member of the AZ Chiropractic Society and the Christian Chiropractic Association. My office is on Camelback and 44th St. Stop by and let us know you saw us In the Zona!

As my first article, I thought I’d tackle the age old question, “Why do joints crack.” People of all ages experience cracking joints. From knuckles to knees, backs to toes, we all hear the occasional pop now and again.

There are actually lots of answers to why our joints crack. Some research points to a process called cavitation. Sometimes small cavities are formed in the joints. Those cavities form vacuums and, when fluid finds the vacuum, they rush in producing a sound. Sometimes the movement of ligaments and tendons can make a noise. You can hear this when your ankle makes the same clicking sound as you move it back and forth. Eventually this goes away as the tendons and ligaments find a position where they can stretch without moving.
It’s great to be here! I look forward to seeing all of you in the pages of In the Zona!

Kidz in Cool Places – Carson Knows Cars!

Carson is a Freshman @ STCS

zona: Is Tyler a nice guy?
carson: Tyler’s a great guy. He’s also a great technician. He knows a lot about cars.

zona: Did you have any idea what you were going to do when you got here today? What did you learn?
carson: I had no idea what I was going to do today. Tyler taught me how to take apart a car brake. We took off some tires and changed the oil on a car. I loved it.

zona: If you could work on any kind of car what would it be?
carson: I’d say the new Mustang Boss. The engine is giant. It has so much horsepower.

zona: What are the coolest cars you’ve been in and how did you get to ride in them?

carson: I was in an Audi R8 which was cool. I’ve been in a Corvette Z06 and Shelby GT500. I went shopping for new cars with my stepdad and we had a lot of fun checking them out. My uncle got a muscle car which was cool. He restored it.

zona: What exactly is a muscle car?

carson: A car with a lot of horsepower. Not necessarily fast acceleration but just a big engine. A car with a lot of muscle.

zona: What would your ideal job be if you were in the automotive business?
carson: I need to learn a lot more about cars before I can be a technician. That’s one of the reasons I came here today. I’ve always wanted to know about cars. Before I can fix my mom’s car, I think I need to spend some more time with Tyler. I think I could change a tire now though.

zona: Is there anything you’d like to say to the folks at Tony’s Auto?

carson: I’d like to thank them for giving me this opportunity to go to the shop and learn how to work on cars. I’d like to thank Tyler especially for taking on the challenge of trying to teach me stuff. They gave me a couple of shirts, a flashlight and a few tools so I can work on cars myself. That was really nice of them.

zona: What qualities make for a good Technician?

tyler: You have to pay attention and learn quickly. It’s important to get your hands dirty. You can’t be afraid to get right into the car and see what’s going on. You need to jump in feet first and make sure you are always hands on.

zona: Do you think Carson could be a good technician one day?

tyler: I definitely think so. As he grows up, he’ll learn more about the inner workings of the car and do it well. He was paying attention today and his hands got really dirty. Those are good signs. He should take auto-shop classes when he gets to high school.

zona: Do you have to get licensed to be a tech?

tyler: You should work hard to get ASE certified. ASE offers tests on all of the different systems in a car. There are eight of them. Each one requires a lot of time to study and prepare. When you’re ASE certified, shops know you’ve put the time in to learn what you need to know

zona: You guys are in Arcadia. Is there anything you want to say to the community about Tony’s Auto?

tyler: Tony’s Auto has been around for nearly 30 years. We don’t sell you things you don’t need. You get your money’s worth and we’ll even give you a ride while your car is in the shop.

zona: What’s the coolest car you’ve ever worked on?

tyler: A 2006 Corvette.

Kidz in Cool Places – Heard Museum

By Rebecca Chiffelle

Recently, In the Zona had the privilege of touring the Heard Museum’s archives where they store all of the artifacts they use for upcoming exhibits, or for safe keeping. The mission of the Heard Museum is to preserve precious objects for future generations to appreciate. This is made possible by their hard working conservation team. They take everything into consideration, from temperature control, to the amount of light the pieces are exposed to. At first, the archives look like a big warehouse, but when you step inside, it’s pretty amazing to see how all the pieces are preserved and taken care of by the conservation team. There are about 40,000 items in the museum’s archives, ranging from baskets the size of peas, to huge totem poles and paintings. Many of the artifacts are over one hundred years old. Some artifacts are donated by families; in fact, the Heard just received a gift seventy seven contemporary textiles that are currently stored neatly in the archives. Each artifact the Heard receives gets a number, a description, a photograph, and is entered into a huge database which controls which pieces are coming in and going out.

Whenever the museum wants to open a new exhibit, it is up to the curators to look through the artifacts. Right now, the curators are building a brand new, immense exhibit called, Beyond Geronimo.

The curator’s job is to decide what artifacts are pulled from the archives and put on display. They think about what story the people are trying to see, and they look through the four storage rooms of the archives to gain inspiration. The archives are such a unique, interesting place filled with rich history of the original Native American tribes; we were so lucky to be able to visit!

If you haven’t been down to the Heard Museum in a while, now is the time to go! What makes the Heard Museum so unique is that they don’t only show you the history of the tribes; they show you contemporary artifacts that are still used today. Not only is the museum itself pretty amazing, they also have new exhibits coming out that are fun and educational for kids of all ages. Beyond Geronimo opens in January and is an exhibit that the Heard is very excited about. The exhibit tells the story of lesser known Apache leaders and is something the curator team has been working on for over a year.

Another exhibit at Heard is the Bolo Tie exhibit. Zona also got to talk to archaeologist, Norman Sandfield, who told us all about Bolo Ties and why they are important to the Native American culture, The Bolo Tie exhibit brings light to something most people don’t think much about. Mr. Sandfield himself has delivered about 1100 Bolo Ties, and about 300 of them will be displayed in the museum. More than Childs Play is also a new exhibit that will definitely appeal to younger children. The exhibit displays dolls that the Native Americans made for their children and explains the deeper meaning behind them.

If you’re looking for a fun educational time, head on over to the Heard Museum! Every day they have guided tours to take you through the museum, so you don’t miss a thing. On November 20th, you can hear from Mr. Sandfield himself as he talks about his passion for Bolo Ties and see some of his collection in person! The Heard Museum is perfect for kids of all ages. Go for a family trip or just with your friends. Be sure to stop by and check out the museum and its latest exhibits.

Ask. Dr. Budd!

Smiles are important. No one knows this more than Dr. John Budd, a local specialist in Orthodontics for children and adults. Recently, ZONA asked Dr. Budd, a long time, loyal participant in the magazine, if he would be our “go to guy” for inquisitive readers with questions on how to keep a beautiful smile and maintain healthy teeth and gums. If you have a question for Dr. Budd send them to stories@iminthezona.com.
The first question came from a 12 year old boy named Tom Randle from Phoenix.

Hi Budd, I was wondering what the difference is between an orthodontist and a dentist? Pretty simple question, I know, but I’m clueless.
Dear Tom-
Thank you for writing to me. To answer your question, all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. After an orthodontist graduates from dental school and becomes a dentist, he or she then goes to another three years of school to learn how to become an orthodontist. This makes an orthodontist a specialist – someone who is good at fixing a very specific problem – in this case crooked teeth and jaws. Orthodontists only practice orthodontics. We don’t clean teeth, place fillings, do root canals, or anything other than straighten teeth with tools like braces or Invisalign.

The next question comes to the good doctor from a “curious parent” from Mesa.
Dear Dr. Budd, how do orthodontists save room for the permanent teeth?

Dear “Curious Parent”,
As your child’s baby molars start to get loose, there is something that orthodontists refer to as “leeway space”. This space is the difference between the sizes of the larger baby molars and the smaller adult bicuspids. If this space is preserved through the use of a space maintainer, it can help gain the space needed to straighten crowded teeth. If tooth eruption is left alone and proceeds naturally, the six year molars will almost always drift forward and use up the “leeway space”.

Today’s final question comes to us from Tammy from Phoenix.

Hi Budd, my 10 year old has one crooked tooth, is there anything we can do for just one crooked tooth, or does she need braces?

Dear Tammy,
Comprehensive treatment is usually the preferred way to go. It addresses not just the alignment of the teeth, but also form and function. Having said that, there are options for treating just one crooked tooth. The most common option for children is probably some version of what is known as a spring retainer. This can be effective in aligning one tooth that is slightly out of alignment or in cross bite. However, it should be noted that retainers are really designed for holding teeth in position, not for moving them to a new position. If your child needs anything other than minor movements for one tooth, it is usually best to do something more comprehensive.

PCDS’s Odd Couple Production

PCDS’s Odd Couple Production
ZONA Reporter, Frea Mehta, Senior at Phoenix Country Day School, met the four main characters on the set of the school’s production of Neil Simon’s Odd Couple, the original “male” version and the revised “female” version, to discuss the actors experience from the beginning auditions to dress rehearsal leading up to the actual play, which was to take place 2 days after this interview. When readers read this interview, the play would have already been performed.

Cast and subjects of this interview: Justin Corsillo – Junior – playing Oscar.
Alex Swanson – Sophomore – playing Felix. Nicole Burke – Senior – playing Olive. Megan Cathey – Junior – playing Florence.

frea: The play was originally written for two men. What did you think of the rewrite including women? megan: We both know both scripts pretty well. The female version was written twenty years after the original. There are some cool parallels between the two. frea: Was it hard to learn a Neil Simon play considering its so heavily based on dialogue? justin: I think the worst are the poker and Trivial Pursuit games. The queues are taken from action and not from someone’s dialogue. In the first scene, the character Speed is talking during a poker game. My cue to go open the fridge is actually a pause after he stops talking. It’s pretty hard to take a cue from a non-action like a pause. I remember I forgot that like eight times during rehearsal. frea: You can’t really ad lib can you? justin: Mr. Burns talked to us a lot about this. You can’t change lines because a lot of the dialogue is so intertwined. frea: Do you guys feel any special connection to your characters? Do you share any traits? megan: I hope I’m not as neurotic as Florence. I definitely like things organized and in their place and I can get unsettled if things aren’t a certain way. alex: I have a total system in my locker. It’s like my shrine. That’s so Felix. nicole: I’d say I’m connected with Olive. I like pork rinds. My room always has stuff all over the place. I’d say I’m pretty gross. frea: What drew you to acting? alex: I do theater because of the rush I get when I go on stage. frea: What are your past performances? Favorite role? justin: This is definitely one of my favorite roles. I was also Charlie Brown in Charlie Brown last year, which I liked. megan: I think Florence is probably one of my favorite roles. I was in Our Town last year and played Rebecca. nicole: Usually I play a damsel role, which I don’t like as much because I really like comedy. One of my favorite roles was Mulan’s grandma in Mulan the Musical. alex: Being Linus in Charlie Brown last year was so much fun. I was a plate in Be Our Guest and loved the music. FREA: How do you manage your time with acting and all your school work? justin: It’s just like doing sports or another activity and just about everyone at PCDS does something in addition to school. alex: Last year I was in Charlie Brown and on the tennis team at the same time and it was really hard. I didn’t get home until after eight every night. frea: What’s the most moving or impressive play you’ve ever seen? alex: My favorite was a play called Chicken Soup with Barley that I saw this summer in London. It was about a really narrow demographic but it was really good. justin: I used to live on the East Coast so I used to go to Broadway shows a lot. I really liked Hair. I also liked Avenue Q. megan: Last summer I saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with Daniel Radcliffe. It was so good. frea: What did you learn from Mr. Burns in this process? justin: I think Mr. Burns is a great director. He shared his experiences in college when he was in The Glass Menagerie and Of Mice and Men which helped make things real for us. He buckles down and gets us to do our work. megan: I love it when Nichole and I get to work directly with Mr. Burns. He helps so much when it’s just the three of us. He gives up a lot of his time. alex: Felix was a hard character for me to get down. He helped me really understand how to fit the character. nicole: He really cares. He believes in each of us. He helped us individually learning our lines. For me, I had a hard time transitioning from knowing my lines to really being Olive. Mr. Burns kept working with me and told me there would be this weird moment when I would go from knowing the character to being the character. When that happened, I realized just how good he was at directing.
ZONA Reporter, Rae Aaron, Freshman at Phoenix Country Day School, got the chance to talk to Senior Lindsay Coda, who designed and constructed the set for the Odd Couple play.

While watching a play or performance, have you ever wondered who creates the set and costumes? Lindsay Coda, senior at Phoenix Country Day School, knows all about set design, and is the perfect person to ask. She is responsible for the fantastic set for the play Odd Couple that was just performed this fall by a passionate group of high-school students at PCDS, and other works of art. Lindsay has devoted much of her time to art, and has been showing off her skills since she moved to Phoenix from New Jersey in sixth grade. Getting to know Lindsay was an honor, and her talent doesn’t fail to show through in her art.

When did you become interested in art? When I was three–by the time I could hold a crayon. What did you do for the set? I’m part of a stage design independent study, so I created the design set for the play by sketching on some paper. Then I create a scale model of it on the stage. Were you actually building/painting it? Both. We set up flats, and then we paint over it and design/decorate it. Who do you work with? The theater classes help build a lot of the set, but we also had some building days after school—three, four hours, but it’s really fun. How did you get involved? I’m just helping out—I want to be a stage designer when I grow older. I took a course at Emerson this summer, and I just want to continue it. Is stage design your favorite aspect of art? Exactly. With art, I can sometimes get a little bored doing the same style over and over again, but with stage design, you can create a different set for a different play every month. It’s just so interesting. Do you enjoy other types of art, also? I love art! I’m taking an art history class right now, and I just love and appreciate it. I love to draw, paint, everything. Does anyone in your family value art the way you do? My dad is a graphic designer and a photographer. I will be going to the Prescott Chalk It Up, which is a street painting festival. That’s really fun. For my Holocaust studies class, I’m making a play for my final project, allowing me to design the set. What is your favorite/hardest part of the process? I really don’t think there is a hardest part—it’s all just fun for me. My favorite part is the ability to combine English, Art, and History. Those are my favorite classes. Who is your most inspirational person/hero? Mr. Martin, my history teacher. He teaches me so much, and makes me love it so much by inspiring me with my art and my classes. What’s your most prized piece? For stage design, it would be the Holocaust set I’m working on right now. It’s just very deep for me. As for art, I would say my cowboy pastel I did last year. Do you like to get feedback along the way? I like to take pictures as I go along so I can see the progress at each stage, and afterward look back. How many sets have you designed? Two, one in school and one outside of school. I’ve designed costumes three times, though. What is your favorite part of PCDS? The teachers, and the students are fun to hang out with. I love the humor at this school. Do you like to work with other people around? It doesn’t really matter, but I don’t mind if there’s someone to talk to. If you could work with one famous artist, who would it be? Van Gough. French Impression is fantastic. What kind of music do you like to listen to when you work? Country, and I’m persecuted for it! What’s one piece of advice you would give to a beginner artist? Just keep practicing, because you’re not going to get it right away. You’re going to love it once you get into it. How would you describe your experience in art in a few words? Time of my life.

World Champion Air Guitarist

Coming to the Musical Instrument Museum

As if to prove the saying you can do anything if you set your mind to it, Dan Crane decided one day to become a world champion air guitar player.  And you know what, he did it.  Zona Junior Reporter Kaci Demarest  got the chance to talk to Dan before his visit to the Musical Instrument Museum this Saturday the 19th. Read more to learn about this amazing guy and don’t forget to buy tickets to his “Aireoke” event at MIM. After all, to air is human.

Kaci: When did you become interested in playing the air-guitar?
Dan: I’ve played air guitar since I was a kid – I used to put on concerts for my family. Then in 2003, I discovered there was actually a world championship in air guitar. It
sounded ridiculous. Obviously, I had to sign up.
Kaci: Where were you when you won your title? How did you win it?

Dan: Well, the closest I’ve ever come to winning is actually second place. I came in second place five times, in fact, I became known as “The Bridesmaid of Air Guitar,” or “The Avis of Air Guitar.” (I tried harder).

Kaci: How did you feel when you won your title?

Dan: When I took second place for the fifth time, I felt deflated—as any defeated air guitarist does; and yet in many ways, it turns out that being known as the second best air guitarist is kind of cooler than being the champion.

Kaci: Where have you traveled to compete?

Dan: I’ve competed in New York, Denver, Los Angeles and Finland and I’ve hosted competitions in scores of cities across the US—New York, Boston, Philly, Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, San Francisco, LA, Portland, Seattle, San Diego, and yes…even Phoenix. I’ve also hosted the World Air Guitar Championships in Oulu, Finland since 2008.

Kaci: Do you a have a specific routine for practicing?
Dan: Not really – I just make sure the music is very loud. My neighbors love it.

Kaci: What drives your passion? dan: I think what drives my passion is the same as any musician. It just happens that my instrument is invisible. KAci: How
do people react when you tell them about your title?

Dan: Pity.

Kaci: Where did your inspiration to begin playing come from?

Dan: I take my inspiration from guitar legends like Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend; but also from minimalist sculptor Richard Serra.

Kaci: Who is your musical idol?

Dan: Nietzche

Kaci: Do you play a real guitar? What type?

Dan: I prefer to not refer to it as a “real” guitar, as there is nothing unreal about air guitar. Instead, I prefer to call it “there” guitar. But yes, I do play there guitar in two bands, Nous Non Plus and The Quick Hellos.

Kaci: Do you have any advice for anybody interested in the art of “Aireoke”?

Dan: Come check out my lecture at MIM!

Kaci: Are you excited to be hosting a workshop at the MIM in Arizona?

Dan: I first toured the MIM about a year ago and was blown away. I was pleased to discover that they had an air guitar on display and wrote to them suggesting that perhaps I could come and lecture. I am truly honored that they accepted my invitation of myself.

Soulful Trio – Lily, Natalie & Brenna

Senior, Sophomore and Sophomore @Arcadia High School

Zona: Who is your favorite band or singer?

Lily: I’m a huge Justin Beiber Fan.  I know every single one of his songs and it’s pretty much all I listen too.  I’m not gonna lie.

Zona:  So you’re serious?

Lily: Yep.

Zona: How long have you been singing?

Lily:  I’ve been singing my whole life. I used to sing my ABC’s and Michael Jackson songs when I was a little baby.

Zona: Tell us something about Mr. Maxwell.

Lily: We get along really well. He’s my favorite teacher.  He doesn’t just teach us stuff. He makes sure we know how to do the stuff, then makes sure we actually use it. I came into the class just knowing how to record on a Mac with the little microphone.  My brother would always edit these songs and I never knew how he was doing it. Mr. Maxwell taught me how to do the same stuff which was cool.

Zona: How old were you when you were in Zona the first time?

Lily: I was in Zona when I was in eighth grade, so five years ago. It was the first edition. (actually the second)

Zona: Do you have any ZONA “shoutouts” for anyone?

Lily: I’d like to give a shout out Mr. Maxwell and to all my girls out there. You know who you are. You guys rock!

Zona: Who is your favorite band and/or singer?

Natalie: I like The Main a lot. They are from Arizona. I like Taylor Swift and country music too.

Zona: How long have you been singing?

Natalie: As long as I can remember. I would sing in the shower and sing myself to sleep.

Zona: What do you think of tonights Songwriter’s Night?

Natalie: This one being outside is totally different because we’ve always done it in the auditorium.  It’s really cool. I love the atmosphere and it’s great that so many people showed up.

Zona: Tell us something about Mr. Maxwell?

Natalie: Maxwell is an awesome teacher. He gives everyone a chance. He’s taught us how to record our own songs in our studio in class which is so cool. He focuses on us developing our own music instead of just focusing on being famous.

Zona: Where do you want music to take you?

Natalie: Music is definitely what I want to do with my life. I dream about being on stage and inspiring people.

Zona: Any ZONA “shoutouts” to anyone?

Natalie: Mr. Maxwell who made this all possible. My friends and family for all their support.

Zona: In your opinion, who’s the biggest band to come out of Arizona?

Brenna: Alice Cooper, the Gin Blossoms.

Zona: How long have you been playing an instrument?

Brenna: I’ve been playing guitar since I was about ten. I do acoustic and electric.

Zona: Tell us something about Mr. Maxwell?

Brenna: He’s taught a lot about the recording process. How to take your ideas and transfer them to the computer and then onto recording programs so you get things to sound how you want.  It’s more than just singing.  There’s a whole technical side to it.

Zona: What do you want to do with the your talent?

Brenna: I’d like to have my own guitar studio.  Maybe be a studio musician who plays with solo artists and goes on tour with them.  I like being both in front of an audience and working behind the scenes.

Zona: When were you first in the Zona?

Brenna: Natalie and I were in when we ran a summer camp in 7th grade.  It was a great business for kids that age.  We made, what we thought was a lot of money.

Zona: Any ZONA “shoutouts”?

Brenna: Maxwell, my family and everyone in CMAS. zona: What’s your favorite side dish at dinner? all: Definitely scalloped potatoes.

Q & A: Sydney Miller

Sydney is a Freshman @ Valley Lutheran High School

Zona: Was Christ Lutheran a good school? How did CLS prepare you for high school?

Sydney: Christ Lutheran was a great school. It was hard most of the time, but the teachers definitely prepared me for high school. For instance, Mrs. Roe had a No Excuses policy in her English class, so any late work was a zero.

Zona: Could you tell us about a teacher you thought was great at CLS?

Sydney: Mr. Doyle, my math teacher, was great! He had a very loud voice and could joke around with the students. He also taught math very well.

Zona:What is it like being a freshman in high school?

Sydney: I love high school. I was a little nervous at first, but I have a brother who goes to Valley, and a sister who just graduated from there. I met a bunch of new people and made some close friends.

Zona: Are you happy with your choice of high schools? Why?

Sydney: I am really happy with where I go. The teachers are awesome, and you can tell they really care about me and the other students.  Also, you can do almost any sport here.

Zona: Is it rare to play varsity volleyball as a freshman? Did you surprise yourself by making the team, or did you know you were going to do it?

Sydney: Well, every year they get one, and I happened to be it. I was really surprised though. I thought that there would be no room for me on the team.

Zona: What are some of your volleyball goals? What are some of your other goals in high school?

Sydney: For volleyball, my goal would be that I want to get a solid jump serve, and be good enough to play in college when that time comes. For high school, my goal is to get a 3.9 or higher on my GPA.

Zona: What are your strongest skills on the volleyball court? What are some of your strongest skills with other people?

Sydney: I’m very consistent. I am also good at spot serving, and I keep my team pumped up. As for people, I’m pretty out-going and can usually cheer people up.